The Tazkira is the primary national identity document for citizens of Afghanistan. It serves as the fundamental proof of citizenship and is a prerequisite for accessing all other government services, including obtaining a passport, marriage registration, purchasing property, and enrolling in educational institutions. Without a valid Tazkira, it is impossible to apply for a Machine Readable Passport (MRP).
For Afghan citizens residing abroad, obtaining or verifying this document is a critical step in maintaining their legal status and connection to their homeland. While the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) in Afghanistan is the issuing authority, the Embassy plays a vital role in facilitating this process for the diaspora.
Types of National ID Cards
currently, there are two formats of the national ID in circulation:
- Paper Tazkira: The traditional handwritten document. This remains valid and is the standard document processed through absentee applications.
- Electronic Tazkira (e-Tazkira): A modern, biometric smart card. Applications for e-Tazkiras generally require the physical presence of the applicant at specific registration centers for biometric data collection (fingerprints and iris scans).
The Absentee Application Process (Ghayabana)
Afghan citizens living abroad who do not possess a Tazkira can apply for one through the Absentee (Ghayabana) process. Since the Embassy cannot issue the Tazkira directly, this process legally empowers a representative in Afghanistan to file the application on your behalf.
The process is divided into two stages: the initiation at the Embassy and the issuance in Kabul.
Stage 1: At the Embassy
The applicant must visit the Consular Section to initiate the request. The primary goal is to verify the applicant's identity and lineage. The applicant will need to provide:
- Completed application forms.
- Recent standard-size passport photographs.
- Copies of Tazkiras belonging to paternal relatives (Father, Grandfather, or Brothers) to establish family lineage.
- Details of a designated Representative (Wakil) in Afghanistan who will handle the process in Kabul.
Once the documents are reviewed, the Embassy issues a verification letter and officially endorses the request, which is then sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in Kabul.
Stage 2: In Afghanistan
The designated representative in Kabul must visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to collect the documents sent by the Embassy. The representative then takes these documents to the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA).
The NSIA will verify the family records (Kinda) and, upon approval, issue the Tazkira in the applicant's name. The representative must then have the new Tazkira attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before sending the original document to the applicant abroad.
Confirmation of Existing Tazkiras
If a citizen already possesses a Tazkira but requires a Passport, the validity of the Tazkira must often be confirmed first. This is known as the "Tazkira Verification" process.
In this scenario, the Embassy sends a copy of the existing Tazkira to the central registry in Afghanistan. Once the registry confirms that the details match the central archive, the Embassy can proceed with passport issuance or other legal services.